Jaitley hits back at Rahul Gandhi on FTII issue

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday hit back at Congress vice president Rahul for his comments at FTII, Pune, by dubbing them "height of mediocrity".

"Does Rahul Gandhi's statement at Film and Television Institute of India about 'mediocrity on the top' also apply to the Congress," Jaitley wrote on his twitter account.

Amid protests by BJP activists, Gandhi on Friday urged the central government "not to impose its will" on the striking students of FTII.

Protesting against Gandhi's trip to FTII, BJP activists carrying saffron and black flags marched in a procession at the institute, vociferously raising slogans and accusing him of politicising the issue.

The Congress leader supported the FTII students opposed to the appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman. He said their demand was "justified" and the government "must talk" to the student community.

FTII is a premier institute for film-related studies, and has produced noted alumni like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jahnu Barua, Shabana Azmi, Santosh Sivan and Naseeruddin Shah.